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Interesting Reads. Industry news that you may have missed.

USA Today mistakenly ‘Rickrolls’ in place advertisement – The Drum

Advertising mistakes are more common than people think. This week, USA Today fell into its trap and “Rickroll’d’” its readers. In place of where a normal ad would have appeared, visitors were surprised by Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up, a throwback to the original trolling times on the internet.

Sears Went From Gilded-Age Boom to Digital-Age Bankruptcy – The New York Times

For years, Sears was the largest retailer in the world. Over its 132-year history, its early mail-order and distribution innovations made it the Amazon of the Gilded Age. But to an entire generation of young shoppers, Sears is the last store they want to visit.

Source: The New York Times

Mistakes U.S. Companies Make When Working With Influencers – Forbes

Optimizing influencer partnerships for brands can be a tricky task as understanding influencers tend to be a challenge for U.S. companies. Interestingly enough, companies headquartered around the globe are doing a better job at leveraging influencers. It seems that American brands aren’t doing enough research to tap into key influencers align and build a relationship.  

Source: Forbes

How Robots and Drones Will Change Retail Forever – The Wall Street Journal

From appliance shopping to grocery delivery, retailers like Amazon and Walmart are using AI and robots to transform its practices. Robots have practically mastered everything employees can do, except grabbing and placing boxes. These are the early days of what’s called the “physical cloud,” an e-commerce ecosystem that functions like the internet itself.

Source: The Wall Street Journal